Q&A: Lecia Phinney....

...my new friend AND hero, from the blog:  A Day that is Dessert

1. Describe who you are in 10 words or less. 

Mother and wife who loves all things beautiful and good.

2. Tell us how you spend your days. 

After getting my first grader to school and my preschooler to preschool, I go running, sometimes with a friend, get ready for the day, run an errand or two, then pick up at preschool again. I spend the rest of the day playing with my boys, supervising piano practice and homework, reading with them, cooking, and getting ready to do it again the next day. I don't watch TV, so in my free time in the evening I read other blogs, write my own blog posts, read, and spend time with my husband.

3. What organization methods do you use to keep all your bits and pieces in order?

I sort the mail at the recycling bin. I have a file system with a folder for each month, and subfolders inside for each week. I use these to keep things I'll need that week or that I need to attend to that week. I use an electronic calendar that is shared with my husband and that my son's school calendar is also downloaded onto.

4. Share a defining moment in your life, which had a direct effect on who you are today. 

I have had breast cancer twice - once at age 28 and once at age 35. Though I'm perfectly healthy now, at age 39 I have the perspective of an older person - seize the day, life is short. It's partly why I blog, to give my boys a real sense of their childhood and who I am right now, because you never know.

5. Please tell us the story of the biggest belly laugh of your life. 

One of the funniest moments of my life happened when I was in labor with Abbott. My bed had been raised up for some reason, and wouldn't come back down. So there I was, in labor, towering way above everyone else. Another bed had to be brought in and raised to the high position, and I had to scoot to the new bed unassisted (I was too high up for anyone to be able to help me). I already had an epidural in place so was actually able to laugh about it not scream.

6. What work of art, creation, project, photo, etc. are you most proud of? 

I am most proud of being home full time raising my boys. Before having children, I never imagined I would do that. After Abbott was born, I took one look at him and realized there was no way I would return to my career in medicine.

7. Which children's book influenced you the most? 

I have always loved books. I can't remember one particular book as being the most influential, but I do have fond memories of reading the Narnia series and the Little House on the Prarie series.

8. What is your favorite pie? Favorite flavor Ice Cream? 

My maternal Grandmother's lemon meringue pie, and Tom Douglas' coconut cream pie. Haagen dazs peanut butter ice cream.

9. Which blog post of yours have had the most comments? 

Three posts: Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pumpkin Prowl, and Washington Park Arboretum.

10. What message would you like to leave for the world? 

Always give the benefit of the doubt. Wag more bark less. Tread lightly on the earth. "Love is something if you give it away, you'll end up having more." Seize the day.